Nettie Ernestine Houck Neill

NEILL, HOUCK, FALCONER, DOUGLASS, ROCHE, WILMARTH, HARDISTY, REESE

Posted By: Marlene Skalberg (email)
Date: 1/16/2015 at 07:28:32

Mrs. Nettie Ernestine Neill, a member of one of Adams County's pioneer families, was born December 13, 1877 and died at her home in Corning early Tuesday morning, June 29, 1948. The second daughter of John W. and Sarah Jane Falconer Houck, she was born on the Hock homestead one mile north of Carbon.
She grew up in the Hock community and taught one term at the High Point School before her marriage February 5, 1896 to Ernest Julius Neill, They first lived on the old Neill farm in Middle Valley, then moved to the Nodaway community in 1914. There she, her husband, and family, built and developed Sunny Slope Stock Farm, one of the outstanding homes of the county.
In her early life she joined the Methodist Church in Carbon, keeping her membership active and later transferring to the Methodist Church in Corning.
Six children survive. They are Mrs. Ruby E. Douglass, Oskaloosa, Iowa; Mrs. Ruth Roche, Gowrie; and Mrs. Dorothy Wilmarth, Carbon; Floyd P. of Malvern, Harold of Corning, and Ernest J. of St. Louis Missouri. A daughter died in infancy. There are also 15 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
One sister, Mrs. Jane Hardisty of Corning also survives. Her oldest sister, Mrs. Daisy Reese, an infant brother, Fercy, and a brother Harry preceded her in death.
Following the death of her husband in September 1944, Mrs. Neill moved from the Nodaway community, resided in Sebring, Florida several months and returned to Corning, where she established a home.
Despite her severe illness which left her bedfast the past few months, she maintained an active part in the management of extensive farming interests in Adams Couty and in building a home for herself, her family, and her friends.
To Mrs. Neill, her family and friends were of prime importance. Through her love for a home and home life, she developed a great loyalty within her family, sharing their successes and bearing their errors with a human element. Her cordial hospitality was well known and her home was always open to all. She was thrifty but generous.
Mrs. Neill was a charter member of the Corning Departmental Club's home and garden division, and her interest in flowers and in her gardens was widely recognized. She had traveled widely and in doing so broadened her knowledge of flowers.
During her last days her sons and daughters, her sister and closest friends were called to her side in accordance with her wishes. Even in the last few hours, she recognized her family circle and friends, carrying her accommodating love for humanity to the end.
Funeral services were Thursday afternoon at the First Methodist Church in Corning with the Rev. V. A. Bloomquist, assisted by Mrs. Dressie Maskers, officiating. John Riegel sang, "A Perfect Day" and "Good Night Here and Good Morning Up There" and Mrs. Joe Cook played Mrs. Neill's favorite song, "The Bells of St. Mary's" and Anton Dvorak's "Going Home." Pall bearers were the three sons, Floyd, Harold, and Ernest J. and three sons-in-law, J. Wayne Douglass, Dr. J. R. Roche, and Vern Wilmarth, Mrs. Charles Thomas, Mrs. Edward Goldsmith, and Mrs. Leon Rider were in charge of flowers.
The Boyd Roland Co. Funeral Home in charge. Burial in the Quincy Cemetery.
Adams County Free Press, July 8, 1948, page 8